The AirDancer: The Rhythm of My Body Shapes

Melinda Smith is a professional dancer. She also has cerebral palsy that affects her movement and speech. “The AirDancer: The Rhythm of My Body Shapes” explores Smith’s collaboration with instrument designer Alon Ilsar utilising the AirSticks; a wearable musical instrument that responds to three-dimensional movements that can be programmed to respond to the unique abilities and musical needs of the performer. As someone who relies on Augmentative and Alternative Communication methods (AAC) as a result of her disability, Smith used the AirSticks to create a composition that incorporated not only music and dance, but also poetry, overlaying musical notes with the electronic voice of her communication device and her own speaking voice (which many find difficult to understand). The resulting performance blurs the lines between artforms to explore concepts of communication, disability and representation. The “AirDancer” will be a publication in two parts, featuring a video of the final performance of The Rhythm of My Body Shapes with interviews with the collaborators, and a written essay explaining the processes behind the composition in more depth.